Whisky Focus - The Balvenie 40 Year Old George Cleverley Whisky Travel Box

The Balvenie 40 Year Old George Cleverly travel box isn't a new expression of The Balvenie whisky but a very exclusive presentation of this very rare whisky, in fact it is a one off presentation of The Balvenie 40 Year Old.

Prestigious British shoemaker George Cleverley and The Balvenie have collaborated to produce just ONE single luxurious handcrafted box which has been made using exquisite 1786 Russian Reindeer leather.

The 1786 Russian Reindeer leather, which is only available through George Cleverley bespoke services has its own story, on December 10th 1786 a storm forced the Metta Catharina to seek shelter in Plymouth Sound. She had been bound for the Mediterranean with a cargo of hemp and leather from the Russian Port of St. Petersburg. The Catherina broke free and was blown towards Mount Edgecumbe before sinking. The crew were able to get ashore but the ship and its cargo were lost for 200 years until divers rediscovered the ship and its cargo, including hides littering the sea bed, remarkably well preserved after two centuries of immersion in black mud.

Now owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, these hides are salvaged by hand and used exclusively by G J Cleverley on permission of The Prince of Wales. They have been tanned the traditional Russian way, which involves soaking in pits of willow bark and currying with birch oil. The process gives them a very distinct aroma. During the two centuries under the sea every hide acquired a different patina depending on where it was locationed inside the wreck of the "Metta Catharina". As a result each piece made in this special material bares its very own shades of colour.

The George Cleverley Whisky Travel Box will contain The Balvenie's 40 year old whisky, 2 glasses and a copper a dog which were once used by distillery workers to ‘liberate’ whisky from casks in the warehouse. Additionally a signed note from David Stewart, The Balvenie's Malt Master for 55 years will accompany the box, the purchaser of this one of kind masterpiece will also receive a one-to-one tasting masterclass with The Balvenie's Brand Ambassador.

The whisky contained in the box is Batch One of only 150 bottles of The Balvenie Forty, Malt Master David Stewart has skilfully married together small amounts of The Balvenie matured in 4 refill hogsheads and 3 sherry butts that have lain in The Balvenie warehouses for at least forty years.

With a client list that includes names such as H.R.H The Prince of Wales, Winston Churchill, Ralph Lauren, Alexander McQueen, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks and Daniel Day-Lewis to name but a few; G J Cleverley shoes can be found on some of the world’s most discerning feet. Based on shared values of craftsmanship, quality and being a family business, The Balvenie and the George Cleverley team have been working together around the world for the last few years. The Balvenie embodies a holistic approach to craftsmanship making this collaboration with George Cleverley a natural fit, additionally this partnership continues to support and champion British craftsmanship and British makers.

This intricate Balvenie 40 Year Old George Cleverly travel box one-of-a-kind limited edition will be exclusive to The Whisky Shop located in Mayfair, London and will be available to purchase from November priced at £25,000.

The standard Balvenie 40 which is presented in a bespoke wooden box, handmade in oak by Scottish craftsman Sam Chinnery is currently available from the specialist whisky shop The Whisky Exchange priced at £2,950.
 

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